AIDS Symptoms: How HIV Progresses Through Its Stages

Recognizing HIV Symptoms: Acute, Chronic & Advanced Stages

AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV infection, marked by a severely weakened immune system. Early AIDS symptoms often mimic common illnesses, making detection difficult. As HIV progresses, more severe signs like rapid weight loss, chronic infections, and neurological issues emerge. Understanding the timeline and nature of symptoms is crucial for early diagnosis and effective treatment.

Introduction

AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a chronic condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV damages your immune system, compromising your immune system's ability to combat foreign substances. As per India’s HIV Estimations report of 2023, about 2.5 million people were living with HIV, with a prevalence of 0.2%. HIV infection happens in three stages; its symptoms are similar to those of viral fever. AIDS symptoms depend on the level of infection and some other factors.

What are the early AIDS symptoms?

AIDS symptoms are not always obvious, and the most reliable way to confirm an infection is through testing. In many cases, individuals may not show any noticeable symptoms. That is why, if you believe you might have been exposed to HIV, it is wise to get tested. When symptoms do appear, there are several common signs associated with early HIV infection:

• Cough, cold, and fever
• Headache
• Joint pain and muscle aches
• Rashes
• Sore throat and mouth sores
• Swollen lymph glands
• Diarrhoea
• Unexplained weight loss
• Night sweats
   

What are the first-stage AIDS symptoms?

The acute or primary stage of HIV infection marks the beginning of the progression toward AIDS and typically develops within four weeks of exposure to the virus. During this phase, common early symptoms such as fever, headache, and skin rashes may appear. Symptoms, if they appear, are non-specific and can include fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches. This initial stage generally lasts one to two weeks.

During this time, HIV multiplies rapidly and spreads throughout the body, targeting and damaging CD4 cells, crucial immune cells responsible for fighting infections. This is when the virus is most active, significantly increasing the risk of transmission to others.

What are the second-stage AIDS symptoms?

The symptoms of AIDS subside over time and do not reappear for the next 10 years or more in certain cases. The next phase of HIV infection is a chronic HIV infection, also known as asymptomatic HIV infection. However, some individuals may experience persistent symptoms, particularly if they are not on treatment. During this, the virus is actively multiplying in your body, but at a lower level.

People do not exhibit any symptoms of AIDS at the chronic stage of HIV infection. If you do not begin HIV treatment, ART (antiretroviral therapy), chronic HIV advances to AIDS within approximately 10 years. However, if you start the treatment, you can delay AIDS by several decades.

What are the Last Stages of AIDS Symptoms?

The final stage of HIV infection, AIDS, is symptomatic HIV infection, where your body experiences opportunistic infections. These are symptoms that are due to other infections, which you are prone to because of having an HIV infection.

When you reach the final stage of HIV infection, your immune system is significantly damaged, exposing you to diseases and viruses that your body is easily capable of fighting off. If you have a CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm³, your HIV infection has advanced to AIDS. At this stage, you have a high viral load that transmits HIV easily to others and a typical survival rate of 3 years.

What is Opportunistic Infection?

People with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to frequent and severe infections compared to those with healthy immune function. These are known as opportunistic infections and conditions, and they can appear in various forms, including:

• Fungal infections such as candidiasis, cryptococcosis, and histoplasmosis
• Parasitic infections like cryptosporidiosis, cystoisosporiasis, and toxoplasmosis
• Herpes simplex virus
• Lymphoma
• Wasting syndrome, a drastic loss of weight and muscle mass
• encephalopathy, a brain disorder
• Kaposi’s sarcoma, a variety of cancer that affects soft tissues
• Tuberculosis
• Pneumonia and Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP), a fungal infection of the lungs
   

What is the diagnosis procedure for HIV infection?

There are three types of HIV tests that you can undergo to check if you are infected, namely:

1. Antigen/Antibody Tests

It is the most common HIV infection test because it looks for markers on the surface of HIV, P24. The antibody test looks for specific chemicals your body produces when reacting to the markers introduced.

The medical professional will take your blood sample through a needle from your arm. This sample is then tested for P24 and antibodies. With the help of antigen/antibody tests, HIV detection can be done within 18 to 45 days after exposure.

2. Antibody Tests

This test takes 23 to 90 days to identify antibodies to HIV, whether in your blood or saliva. To execute this test, medical professionals collect your blood sample or saliva sample from your arm or mouth, respectively.

3. Nucleic Acid Tests (NATs)

The NAT test is the fastest among other tests, as it detects the virus within 10 to 33 days. For this, your medical professional will collect blood samples from your arms. However, this test is not popular unless your medical professional considers that your case is critical.

After receiving a result from any of the medical tests, your medical professional will recommend a set of other tests:

• Viral hepatitis screening
• Chest X-ray
• Pap smear
• CD4 count
• Tuberculosis
   

What is the treatment for HIV infection?

Treatment of HIV infection is antiretroviral therapy (ART), which includes a combination of HIV medications to suppress the virus and HIV/AIDS symptoms. It is beneficial in restoring and maintaining your immune system, minimising the chances of opportunistic infection. With timely treatment, such as ART, you can lead a healthy life.

What are the preventive measures for AIDS?

Having basic knowledge of what HIV infection is and how it spreads reduces your chances of getting it. Some of the common sources of HIV infection are unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person or sharing needles to inject medicine. Some other ways to mitigate the risk are:

• Use latex condoms and dental dams when having sexual intercourse.
• Avoid using animal skin condoms, such as lambskin.
• Use water-based lubricants.
• Never use shared needles.
   

If you think you have a high risk of HIV exposure, consult a medical professional and take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Takeaway

In the final stages of AIDS, the patients exhibit severe symptoms of AIDS and opportunistic infections affecting multiple systems in the body. They experience extreme cases of fatigue, pain, insomnia, depression and significant weight loss. Therefore, consulting a medical professional at the right time is extremely crucial.